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Who of us didn't want to attribute our skin problems to bad genes? Conversely, for those who are blessed with a flawless facade, can you honestly say that all of this is due to frequent hydration and luck in the DNA department? In any case – and regardless of the skin type – it is important to take some responsibility here: Investing time to care for your skin is the best way to make it look and feel great.
However, if you're still dependent on the genetic factors that affect your skin type or condition, I would like to introduce you to the co-founder of Glowbar (the vibrant new Manhattan facial studio) and third-generation beautician Rachel Liverman. After working much of her career in areas related to beauty, Liverman wanted to become self-employed and create something new in an area where she not only felt informed but was also able to continue her family's legacy in the skin care business. Her grandmother Catherine Hinds was a pioneer of American industry in the 1960s and culminated in the founding of the Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics in 1979. Hind's daughter An G. Hinds took over in 1998 and began teaching her daughter Rachel the benefits of skin care at a young age.
A few years later, the industry has gone from a super niche to mainstream and has a customer base that is more eager than ever. But all of these options can be overwhelming and are not an adequate substitute to put your skin in the care of a real expert. So Glowbar was born in 2019.
In honor of National Women's Day and to celebrate this impressive legacy, we sat down with Liverman and her mother to find out what it's like to live in a family of entrepreneurial skin care professionals. Keep scrolling to read our Q&A, where this expert duo honors their family matriarch, explains the benefits of working regularly with a professional beautician, and introduces some of their favorite products at home.
When was the Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics founded and what was the motivation for starting this company?
AH: The Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics was founded in 1979 by my mother Catherine Hinds. She was an early advocate of simple skin care and after spending some time in Europe seeing women taking care of her skin, she felt that there should be a better aesthetic program that took care of the skin. My mother opened Cyclax of London, a traditional UK beauty salon, in 1965 in her hometown of Boston (which was renamed Catherine Hinds in 1967). She was a pioneer of exfoliation as part of the routine at home with her famous “grains”, which were one of the first manual exfoliations on the market.
As her salon became more and more successful, she turned into a beauty entrepreneur – a term that was unusual at the time. To spread her knowledge and offer opportunities to other women, she announced the idea that the simplest skin care is the best type of skin care. I think you should approach skin care as well as medical care or dental hygiene. She developed an in-depth training program that followed a medical approach to skin care.
In 1979, my mother opened the Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics, which became the first 1200-hour medical aesthetics program in 1996. To date, the institute has been responsible for the training and placement of thousands of successful beauticians and has received several awards and prizes including the ACCSC School of Excellence Award.
I took over the institute in 1998 and concentrated on it Modernize the curriculum by implementing the latest treatments, technologies and advanced equipment. At that time, there were no technical treatments like peels or LED, which are common facial treatments today.
When was Glowbar founded and what was the motivation for starting this company? How is it like the Catherine Hinds Institute? Where's the difference?
RL: I started Glowbar in June 2019 after it became clear to me that despite my training as a trained beautician, I wasn't taking good care of my skin. When I grew up with two generations of skin care obsessed beauticians, I was absolutely aware that I should see a professional once a month, but I wasn't, and it came down to two things: time and money.
Of course there aren't many places to get a facial today, but I haven't had an hour and a half to devote myself every month. I needed a session that I knew would improve my skin health through results-based treatments without paying extra. Cue glowbar.
Innovation in skin care is in the family. I tell everyone that my grandmother pioneered skin care and I'm reinventing her. The difference in our work is that the Catherine Hinds Institute focuses on teaching the skin care profession, while Glowbar shifts consumer behavior towards skin care.
What does it mean for you and your family as a third generation skin care entrepreneur to start a business in the 21st century? Why is that important to you as a woman?
RL: By founding a skin care company in the 21st century, I can extend my grandmother's vision for the industry to the modern day.
My grandmother was really the top floor boss. At a time when there was no entrepreneur, she founded her own company that pioneered skin care in the United States. She also believed that women should create financial independence for themselves, and when they graduate, they have self-marketable skills that allow them the potential to become independent entrepreneurs.
The nice thing about the business is that my grandmother wanted to improve the standard of skin health, my mother has invested in scientific developments to advance the industry, and I can continue this legacy every day by helping people use their skin to help Cultivating Practices My grandmother and mother have developed.
What are the biggest skin care problems you are dealing with in your company?
RL: At Glowbar, we treat a variety of skin care problems. That said, acne, hyperpigmentation, aging and skin sensitivity are definitely the most common problems we see.
What is the value of working with a professional beautician? How often should you get professional treatment?
RL: The value of professional treatment for your skin is that it is the skin expert. The skin is the largest organ in your body and you should eHire a professional to deal with and resolve concerns on a monthly basis.
AH: Nobody knows the skin as well as a beautician. You can read and treat your skin better than you can and can properly advise the type of products for your skin type. For optimal skin health, you should see a beautician at least every four weeks.
If professional treatments are not possible, what is an essential product for the routine at home?
RL: Definitely a cleaner! Everyone should use a mild detergent in their routine. You have to wash your face!
AH: Sun protection is the essential product that I think everyone should use. That plus a hyaluronic acid serum to stay hydrated!
When did you first learn how important skin care is? Was there a staple or brand you always had at home?
RL: My mother has taught me the importance of skin care since I was born. I have been using eye cream since I was ten (it turns out this boy's beginning is too young), use SPF every day, and moisturize.
AH: This is true! When she was younger, she came up to me and said, "Mom, I will never get wrinkles!"
My mother always used new products, so I grew up understanding what you need to do to take care of your skin properly! Similar to today, I used a gentle cleanser and moisturizer with sunscreen, and that was in the 1970s. Nobody liked sunscreen.
It's funny because when I was in boarding school all my friends basked in the sun and tried to tan while I was inside with a clay mask on my skin. I tried to get all my high school friends to make masks with me and they thought I was crazy!
What is your skin type and what are the biggest challenges in skin care that you deal with personally?
AH: I have oily skin but I am 63 years old and now of course I have current dehydration, fine lines and wrinkles. When I was younger I was just greasy, but now I tend to have more combination skin.
RL: My skin type is also a combination, including an oily T-zone with superficial dryness. The biggest thing I can do with Glowbar and my skincare routine is constipation in my T-zone, so I'm just trying to clean my pores. Defense against signs of aging and hyperpigmentation from childhood sunburn.
Has your skin care changed over time and if so, how?
AH: Absolutely, and it should change depending on your skin needs and environment! My product usage has changed due to my skin at the time and my age concerns.
RL: I have simplified my skin care over time. It's still as effective, but simplified. I was your traditional consumer and fell in love with good marketing and friends' suggestions for products they loved. Now I have a simple five-step routine (cleansing, toning, treating, moisturizing, and SPF) that works and keeps my skin barrier intact.
What do you think is the best innovation in skin care in recent decades?
AH: In any case, technology in the skin care studio. I really watched it develop and grow. When my mother started there was no product development in terms of ingredients and technology to change the skin. The skin care industry competes with the medical profession. It is progressive, not aggressive and result-oriented. With just one treatment you will see the desired result.
RL: Light bulb!
What advice would you give women of all ages about caring for their skin?
AH: I would say hydration, sunscreen and general wellbeing. Your skin is an external organ. So what you put in there and how you treat the epidermis will make a big difference.
RL: Definitely hydration, sun protection factor, along with consistent treatments with a professional. I always think like this: can you give yourself a thorough tooth cleaning? No, you go to the dentist for that. For really healthy skin at any age, you should consult a professional.
Is there any advice (business, general or skin care specific) from your mother or grandmother that you would have liked to hear earlier?
RL: I wish I had stayed away from the sun more, especially on my face. I also knew that I should have seen a professional every month. One of the main reasons I started Glowbar was a personal need: I haven't seen a professional as often as I should, and when I did that, I didn't get the results I wanted. I wish I had preferred to see a professional from an earlier age.
What do you hope for from the next generation of skin care professionals, innovators and entrepreneurs?
AH: I hope for continued financial success and growth for women.
RL: I hope that the beautician's expertise remains on a pedestal. The consumer has turned away from a professional and has tried to do as much as possible at home. The increase in direct-to-consumer brands and influencers is a strong catalyst for this. The beautician is the expert, and she has invested time and energy into her training, and I firmly believe that you cannot successfully take care of your skin without a beautician. Another value for the consumer is that the beautician is constantly growing and improving. They have knowledge of skin care that typical consumers don't.
Next up: The 5 worst foods for your skin
